Camel [15 Words or Less]

Hello, and welcome! This is 15 Words or Less Poems, a low-pressure way to wake up your poetry brain (guidelines here), and I’m very glad you’re here. 

Photo: Laura P. Salas

While in Cyprus, we went to a camel park–and rode camels! I loved this handsome fellow.

This image makes me think of several things:

  1. my Achilles tendon on my left leg, which has given me trouble the past two years
  2. false eyelashes
  3. how camels feel about carrying people around

And here’s my first draft.

 

It’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count.)

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

19 Responses

  1. Ha! Box of blocks about sums it up. Great description!

    HORSE OF A DIFFERENT SHAPE

    That horse has a lump
    a humongous bump.
    Oh my-
    I’ll ride in the sky!

    1. Heehee–this about sums up when that camel stood up with Maddie and I on his back. Our petite daughter was sky-high:>)

  2. Good morning Laura and congrats on your latest book about animals. And what an animal you’ve chosen for today’s 15 WOL. I love camels and giraffes, and I’m thinking it’s due to those eyelashes you mentioned. Not false ones, but real ones adorning such soulful eyes.

    Beasts of Burdens

    You’re among them
    standing tall
    strong
    bold
    hear our prayers
    relief from
    burdens
    we
    hold.

    1. Two poems and two incredibly different tones. I love the idea that these beasts help us with our burdens.

    2. Yes, giraffes, too! They are just the most beautiful…Love the plural Burdens in the title. Would be nice to get relief from some of the burdens of the world, wouldn’t it? If only we (humans) weren’t causing most of those burdens ourselves.

  3. Hi Laura–Congratulations on your book and on co-teaching the Lyrical Language Lab. I love this guy’s confidence.

    Camel Confidence

    Torn from dunes,
    I carry mountains.
    Wind-blown grasses ripple
    across my flanks.

    And you?

    1. Ooooh, I love line 2, especially. Works in so many ways. And that zinger of a final line–ha!

  4. poem by Jessica Bigi

    Camel

    Under desert stars
    Thine eyes have seen
    The tiniest of Kings
    Thus my legacy

    1. Amazing how just choosing the word “Thine” instead of “Your” changes the whole feeling of your poem, Jessica!

  5. Hi Laura, summer greetings! Thanks for this lovely pic of the camel–I was captured by the indignant look in his eyes … My daughter and I had the opportunity to ride one a few summers ago at the Minnesota Zoo.

    RELUCTANT GUIDE

    Oh, it’s you again–
    If you must
    climb on
    and will
    start
    our
    run …

    1. I love the voice of this guide. And it’s hysterical that you rode one here in Minnesota, where I live. I have never ridden one here, but I couldn’t wait to ride one in Cyprus, halfway around the world. Life is strange. :>)

  6. I haven’t posted in ages. Love the camel image. Love how different all of these are. Here’s my offering:

    Ride high
    The drunken dromedary:
    All sway and grunt,
    Spit,
    Stall,
    Down ancient desert trails

    1. Welcome back, Beth! I love this–that sway and grunt and spit. So earthy.

  7. My only camel experience was the 25 cent ride at the Bronx Zoo when I was eight. Trying to imagine this from the poor camel’s POV!

    Zoo Camel

    Small bodies squirm
    atop me
    as I clopclopclop,
    never-ending circle
    til it’s sunsetstop.

    1. Oi. I feel sorry for those camels. At that zoo and “my” park. Though less work than they do as pack animals, probably.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,548 other subscribers

Are You Looking For?

Poetry Friday posts

Classroom Connections posts

All my poetryactions

Go to my Poetry page for:

  • National Poetry Month projects through the years
  • Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
  • Introductions to several favorite poetry forms
Tags
#waterpoemproject15 Words or Less Poems20for2030 Painless Classroom Poems50 State Poemsacrosticsactivity pagesactivity sheetALAA Leaf Can Be...Amy Ludwig VanDerwaterA Need to FeedanthologiesanthologyA Rock Can Be...art projectsaudiopoemsawardsbad newsBarbara Juster EsbensenBilly Collinsbiopoemsblog tourbookalikesbook festivalsBookSpeak!book spine poemsbook trailersbop poembyr a thoddaidcafepresscalendar poemsCamp Read-a-LotCan Be... bookscan be... poemsCapstoneCarol Varsalonacascade poemsCatherine FlynnccbcCCRA.W.3CCRA.W.4CCRA.W.5centoschapter booksCharles Waterschoral compositionschristina rossetticinquainsCLAclassified ad poemsclassroom connectionclassroom connectionsClover Kittyconferences and conventionscrown sonnetscybilsdansaDare to DreamDavid Elliottdeeper wisdom poemdefinitosdiamantesdiversitydizaindodoitsuDot DayDouglas Floriandownloadablesdrum corpse.e. cummingsekphrastic poemsepistolary poemsequation poemsessentialethereeseventsexquisite corpseFairy Tale Garage Salefamilyfibonaccifiction picture booksfinding familyfirefightersforeign editionsfound poemsfree author zoomsfree versefrom studentsgeesegeorgia heardghazalGift Taggiveawaygolden shovelgoldilocksgratitudehaikuheart of aheart of a teacherHeidi MordhorstHelen FrostHighlightshow-to poemshow to make a rainbowI Am FromI Am poemsidiomsif you want to knit some mittensIf You Were the MoonILAimagepoemsinterviewin the middle of the nightIRAIrelandIrene LathamJ. Patrick LewisJanet WongJoyce SidmanKendraKerlanKidlit Comboslailaura's board booksLaura's booksLaura's poemsLaura's readingsLaura ShovanLee Bennett HopkinsLilian MoorelimericksLinda Booth SweeneyLine Leads the WayLion of the Skylist poemslittle free librarylive writingLullaby and Kisses Sweetlyricsmadness poetrymagnipoemsmargaret simonMarilyn Singermary lee hahnmask poemsMatt Forrest EsenwineMeet My FamilyMelissa StewartMentors for Rentmentor textsmetaphorMichelle Myers LacknerMillbrookMinnesota Book Awardsmoneymoonmy reading lifemy writing processN+7naaninarrative poemsNational Poetry Month 2012 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2014 (riddle-ku)National Poetry Month 2015National Poetry Month 2016National Poetry Month 2017 (#wonderbreak)national poetry month 2018 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2020National Poetry Month 2021 (#EquationPoem)national poetry month 2022 (sticky-note poems)National Poetry Month 2023 (Digging for Poems)National Poetry Month 2024 (magnipoems)ncteNerdy Book Clubnifty newsnifty stuffNikki Grimesnonfictionnonfiction booksNonfiction Writers Dig Deepnovelsnovels in verseodesOne Minute Till BedtimeoppositifyOskar's VoyagepadletpantoumsparodiesPatreonpeacepersonalpet poemsphotopoetryphrase acrosticspicture booksplagiarismpoempicspoemspoems for two voicespoemsketchpoetic pursuitsPoetry 7poetryactionspoetry activitiesPoetry Blastpoetry booksPoetry FridayPoetry Friday AnthologiesPoetry Princessespoetry promptspoetry sistersPoetry Tips for Teachersprogressive poempublishing processpuddle songPutridquotationsraccontinosRandy Salasread-aloudreadaloudreading poetry in the classroomRebecca Kai Dotlichrecipe poemsrefugeesresearchreview copiesreviewsrevisionrhyming booksrhyming nonfictionrhyming picture booksRhyming Picture Books the Write Wayrhyming poemsRiddle-kuriddle poemsRock Can Be...Rock the Blogrondeau redoublesRudyard Kiplingsalas snippetsSCBWIschool visitsScotlandseasonssecrets of the loonSELsestinasshrinking daysskinnyskypeslice of lifesmall readssnack snooze skedaddlesnowman-coldsonnetsStampede!storm poemstorytimestorywalkstudent poemsstudent workSylvia VardellTanita Davistankatautogramteachableteacher resourcesteen/adult poemsterza rimasthankfulthank yous and referencesthe business sidethings to do iftracy nelson maurertrioletstunie munson-bensonvideosVikram MadanvillanellevillanellesWater Can Be...wealthy elementaryWe BelongWhat's InsideWhy-kuwinterwonderwonderbreakword of the yearwordplaywordsmithswork for hirewritingwriting bookswriting processwriting promptswriting the life poeticyoung authors conferencesYouTubeZapZap Clap Boomzenozentangle
Show More Show Less

Discover more from Laura Purdie Salas

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Join Laura's monthly newsletter for eductators

Get three of Laura's favorite poetry activities when you subscribe to "Small Reads."